Platygaster narendrani Ushakumari

Anjana, M., Rajmohana, K. & Saleem, U. K. A., 2023, New records and new host associations of genus Platygaster Latreille (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) from India, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 123 (1), pp. 21-26 : 24-25

2. Platygaster narendrani Ushakumari ( Figure 3D )

Platygaster narendrani Ushakumari, 2004: 574 , 590. Original description, keyed.

Diagnosis: Body length 1.32 mm. Black. Frons and vertex finely reticulate. Pedicel twice as long as wide; Mesoscutum as long as wide, notauli present, lateral pronotum finely reticulate; scutellum semicircular T 1 transverse with strong longitudinal ridges. T 2 striate laterally in less than basal half.

Distribution: INDIA: Kerala, Thrissur; INDIA: Kerala, Mathikettan shola, Idukki; INDIA: Kerala, Churulipetti: Chinnar: Idukki; INDIA: Kerala, Chimmony Dam: Thrissur; INDIA: Kerala, University of Calicut (Malappuram); INDIA: Kerala, Vettichira (Malappuram) (Ushakumari and Narendran, 2004)

Host: Cecidomyiid stem galls of (Sponge gourd) Luffa cylindrica (L.) M. Roem of Cucurbitaceae family ( Figure 3E ). This is the first report of the host of P. narendrani .

Specimen studied: 1 f. INDIA: Kerala, Vettichira, Malappuram; host: reared from stem galls of Lufa cylindrica (L.) M. Roem 14.x.2012; Coll. UKA Saleem; on card, Reg. No.ZSI/ WGRS /IR.INV.6213.

Figures

Figure 3. Plataster luteipes Buhl (Female). A. Habitus B. Strobilanthus – leaf gall C. Strobilanthus – leaf gall with the inducer Cecidomyiid; D. and E. Platygaster narendrani Ushakumari (Female) D. Habitus E. stem galls of Luffa cylindrical (L.) M. Roem.